Written questions by Dewhirst.

Whether special advisers in his Department have had meetings with (a) David Taylor and (b) Asia House since 4 July 2024.

Awaiting answer.

Innovation and Technology, if he will list the names of the organisations that have (a) had departmental Civil Servants seconded to them since July 2024, and (b) seconded organisational staff to the department.

Awaiting answer.

Whether any of his Department’s Arm’s Length Bodies (a) affiliate or (b) subscribe to Stonewall and its services.

Awaiting answer.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of aligning the UK's regulatory framework for precision breeding technologies with that of the EU on investment decisions in the UK

This Government introduced the Precision Breeding Regulations to encourage development of drought and disease-resistant crops thereby boosting productivity for British farmers, and Defra remain committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act. These R...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has had discussions with her European counterparts on the UK's regulatory framework for precision breeding technologies in support of growth and investment in the agri-food

This Government introduced the Precision Breeding Regulations to encourage development of drought and disease-resistant crops thereby boosting productivity for British farmers, and Defra remain committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act. These R...

Food and Rural Affairs, whether she has plans to maintain the UK's independent regulatory framework for precision bred organisms.

This Government introduced the Precision Breeding Regulations to encourage development of drought and disease-resistant crops thereby boosting productivity for British farmers, and Defra remain committed to implementing the Precision Breeding Act. These R...

Innovation and Technology, pursuant to the Answer to Question 745 on YouTube: Safety, whether her Department sought advice from (a) the expert panel for Growing up in an Online World and (b) other experts before

In February, to assist in designing the Growing up in an Online World pilots, the Department sought advice from the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser. To provide advice, Dame Angela Mclean convened a roundtable of experts from both inside and outside ...

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the British Embassy corresponded with Global Counsel on the Prime Minister's visit to Palantir's headquarters in Washington DC on 27 February 2025.

No such correspondence has been identified.

Pursuant to the Answer of 30 March 2026 to Question 122535, how many (a) Memorandums of Understanding and (b) non-legally binding agreements have (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies agre

DESNZ agreed two Ministerial Memoranda of Understanding with China in 2025; one on clean energy (March 2025) and one on climate change (June 2025). No further Ministerial Memoranda of Understanding have been agreed with China since 4 July 2025. Non-legall...

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessments her Department has made of the effectiveness of the Fair Dealing Obligations (Pig) Regulations 2025 in preventing abuse by processors.

The Fair Dealing Obligations (Pigs) Regulations (FDOP) are the result of extensive consultation with farmers, producer groups and the wider industry. They have applied to any new contracts since August 2025 and will come into force fully (for all contract...

Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he had with representatives of the pig industry on market conditions in the sector.

Ministers meet with representatives of the pig industry as part of wider engagement with the farming industry. Defra officials regularly meet with the pig industry and its representatives and will continue to closely monitor the performance of the sector,...

With reference to the answer of 29 April 2026 to Question 129013 on Permanent Secretaries: Pay, what the business case was for paying a Permanent Secretary a salary of £310,000 to £314,999 a year.

The salary of the DHSC Permanent Secretary was approved in line with the senior pay control process.

With reference to the Answer of 21 April 2026, to Question 126661, on Growth Mission Board, for what reasons the Growth Mission Board was replaced by the Growth and Living Standards Committee in November 2025.

The Growth and Living Standards committee was formed to consider matters relating to economic growth and the improvement of living standards. The membership and terms of reference of Cabinet committees is decided by the Prime Minister. A list of current C...

Innovation and Technology, when she plans to reply to the correspondence of 6 January 2026 from the hon. Member for Bridlington and The Wolds on illegal content on social media platforms.

The Department apologises for the significant delay in responding to the Member’s correspondence on this occasion. I provided a full response on 5 June 2026.

How many patients were referred to specialist OCD treatment centres commissioned by NHS England in each of the last five years.

Awaiting answer.

What methodology is used to calculate severance payments to departing (a) Permanent and (b) Cabinet Secretaries where they depart before the end of their fixed term contract.

The Civil Service Compensation Scheme provides the terms for paid exits in the Civil Service. They apply to all civil servants, unless otherwise stated in their contracts of employment. This includes in circumstances where a fixed term agreement is brough...

What estimate he has made of the cost of the new Trade Union Facility Time Framework to the Civil Service.

The updated Civil Service Facility Time Framework and Guidance recommends that facility time expenditure remains limited to 0.1% of a department’s pay bill, and that trade union representatives spend at least 50% of their time delivering their official Ci...

With reference to the answer of 28 April 2026 to Question 129093 on Public Sector: Procurement, whether departments’ insourcing strategies will be published on gov.uk.

The introduction of departmental insourcing strategies is a key component of realising the government’s commitment to delivering the biggest wave of insourcing in a generation. The Government will shortly set out more detail on this but I can confirm that...

Whether guidance has been given by HM Government to the UK public relations and public affairs industry on the (a) exporting of public relations and public affairs services to Russia, and (b) UK-based

Yes, we have. It is available here: guidance on professional services sanctions.To be clear, as I am sure the HM is aware, The Russia (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2022 prohibit any UK persons anywhere and other persons in the UK from providing profes...

What the annual cost is of joining the EU's loan scheme for Ukraine.

The Prime Minister has announced the UK’s intention to begin negotiations to participate in the European Union’s €90 billion Ukraine loan initiative, underlining the growing defence ties between the UK and the EU, boosting Ukraine’s defences, and unlockin...